Today I have a roundup of some of the best lists that I think are worth your time. These are some of my annual favorites. For each I have a link and a quick reason why I enjoy the list. But first, my annual reminder that there are so many best lists out there and each has its own unique focus. You will never see all of them as they come out. But that doesn't mean they are lost to you forever because Largehearted Boy has the very best, best list coverage for this year and every year.
Click here for Largehearted Boy's overflowing archive of every 2020 best books list. This year marks the 13th year of this list of all the lists! Scroll to the bottom for easy access to past year's lists because [and I feel like a broken record] when it was best doesn't matter. If it was on a best list in the last 5 years it is still a great option for your readers right now.
Now on to a few of my personal favorite, can't miss, best lists.
- Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books 2020: I love this list and not just because it is the list from the largest library near me, although that makes it very useful. This list has all ages and includes a wide spectrum of titles, again with a Chicago focus, and great annotations from Chicago Public Library staff. It also has wonderful and easy backlist access. Any of you can use this list, but I would also suggest you look for the version of this list from the metro library closest to you. The local focus is worth your time. You might be at a tiny library and not have time to do such a comprehensive best database, but your colleagues from the larger libraries near you do. Link to those lists for your patrons.
- Book Riot Best Books of 2020: Organized by a genres with a clickable navigation bar, this is a broad list which is also diverse in every way. There are books here you haven't seen on other lists, as well as the titles that are also cropping up other places. I also really like the annotations. They are "chatty" and can be used word for word with patrons to handsell the title in question.
- The Millions annual Year in Reading: Each year, The Millions asks a diverse list of writers, most of them "up and coming" or a little under the general radar to write an essay for which the only requirement is that it is on the topic of their personal year in reading. The result is an enjoyable series of essays that are united by theme but vary in style and content. The archive of every essay from throughout the years is accessible here in reverse chronological order. These "A Year in Reading" pieces are fun to read. Any reader will enjoy perusing these essays because they are all personal accounts of what reading meant to the author in the year that just passed. Yes there are lists of books, but it is through the author's exploration of why they chose these titles, what they meant to that person, and just in general, what reading meant to them in their life over the past year that these essays viscerally communicate the power of reading. And reading about others being positively effected by the act of reading is a joy for all readers to read. [So many "reads" in that sentence.] You can go to this 2019 post where I wrote about how to use this series as a RA Tool.
- Book Riot's Best Book Covers of 2020: Because we all do judge books by their covers, and the best covers make for the best library book displays. But this list also includes excellent annotations to help you understand what is behind the cover, in the text of the book. [For more by me about how to make covers work for you as a resource, click here.]
- AudioFile Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2020: In 9 categories and with access to the full reviews, this is a great starting point for people looking specifically for an audio book.
If you have a favorite best list resources, feel free to share it in the comments.
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